Core for use in the manufacture of wicker and reed baskets



Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE..

WILLIAM JOHN LATWRENCE, OIF TORONTU, ONTARIO,

CORE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WICKER .AND REED BASKETS.

Application filed September 6, 1928. Serial No. 304,270.

My invention relates to improvements in vcores for wea-ving' wicker and reed baskets. Heretofore, it has been customary to uti- ,lite cores having smooth peripheral walls,

and when such cores are used by the blind in weaving baskets, there is nothing to guide 'the operator in maintaining` the upright 'reeds in planes intersecting the axis of the core so that a's the weaver cannot see his work, it is very easy for the upright reeds -to become displaced with the result that the finished work may not pass examination and be condemned, whereupon it is necessary for the operator to unweave the whole basket and start his work over again.

It will be appreciated that this is very discouraging` tothe basket weaver and lowers his efciency as an operator, besides which it materially reduces the inancial returns which he obtains from his work.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the diiiiculty referred to above and to provide means whereby the operator may readily maintain the upright reeds in the proper relative position to each other and the axis of the basket, with the result that the work when finished will in such respect at least pass inspection, and be in proper condition to be offered for sale.

I attain my object by forming thc core, which may be formed in two or more transi verse sections, with a plurality of guides eX- tending lengthwise of its outer surface adapted to 'facilitate the accurate placing of the upright reeds. One or more of the guides are preferably made distinguishable .by touch from the others to indicate starting or stopping points in the placing of the upright reeds or in the weaving.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved core, with a separate end section spaced apart;

Fig. EZ a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the core shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 a plan view of the core looking upwardly and showing` the reed guides on the peripheral wall of the core.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawing, C is the body of my improved core which, in the embodiment illustrated, is of frusto-conical form having on its outer wall or periphery a pluorder that the starting` point may be readi ily identiiied, I make one of the ribs distinguishable from the others by touch and for this purpose I make -it double, as shown at 10, so that the operator may by sense of touch, determine the point from which he started weaving;- and thus be able to judge how to proceed with his work. I

Cio-operating with the body portion is an end 'portion A, which may b e of frustroconical shape and provided on its outer wall with a plurality of ribs B preferably equal 1n number to those on the body portion C and arranged in alignment therewith.

A double rib ll on the end forms a continuation of the rib 10".

The parts of the core are provided with a central hole D and with washers E. A. clampingr bolt F passes through the central hole and the washers and is provided with thumb nut whereby the partsl of the core may be held in assembled position. It is evident that the core may be built up in more than two sections according to the shape of the basket to be made.

Any convenient construction of the guides may be adopted. I show them as ribs bent 'up from metal plates, which may be secured in any suitable manner to the core, which will usually be of wood, but may be made of aluminum or any other 'light material.

Usually the end portion will have the part thereof adjacent the body of the same size and shape as the adjacent end of the body.

Preferably the body of the core is formed of two end disks connected by a central tube G, which serves as a guide for the bolt F, as, otherwise, a blind worker has ditiiculty in passing the bolt through holes in spaced disks.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A core for manufacturing wicker and reed baskets having a substantially continuous surface and a plurality of continuous guides extending,` lengthwise of its outer surface adapted to facilitate and permit assurance of the accurate placing` and lining up of upright reeds use d in the construction of a basket.

2. A core substantially as set forth in claim 1 in which the guides are formed by narrow ribs projecting from the surface of the core.

3. A core substantially yas set forth in claim 1 in which one guide is so shaped as to be distinguishable by touch from the others to indicate the starting point in the Weaving of the basket.

f1. A core for manufacturing Wicker and reed :baskets comprising a body yand a tapered end portion detachably connected, said end adjacent the body being of substantially the saine diameter as the adjacent end of the body, both the body and end having substantially continuous surfaces land a plurality of continuous guides extending length- Wise of their outer surfaces to facilitate and permit assurance of the accurate placing and lining up of upright reeds used in the construction o' .a basket.

5. A core according to claim 1 formed oft end disks connected by a plurality of nictal plates having ribs bent up therefrom to forni the guides.

G. A core according to claim 1 formed ot end disks connected by a central tube and by a plurality of metal plates having ribs bent up therefrom to forni the guides.

Signed at rlloronto this 16th day of August, 1928.

WILLIAM J. LAlVRENC/E. 

